The Road to Doha: Winter Games

Three confederations resume World Cup Qualifying this week. For Concacaf, another set of three matches for all in the Octagonal. In the case of the USA, it’s three matches where conditions may not be freezing, but actually below it. Three is a magic number and three points will be for many teams as World Cup Qualifying resumes on Thursday.

CONCACAF:

Canada leads the Octagonal (aka “The Ocho”) after netting a pair of wins in the frozen tundra of Commonwealth Stadium. However, the toughest part of their schedule starts as they travel to winless Honduras (who got a point at BMO Field last time they met) on Thursday, then come back to Hamilton to face the USA on Sunday, and then travel to El Salvador who are currently second-bottom in “The Ocho” on Wednesday. They will also be without Alphonso Davies who has a case of mild myocarditis after contracting COVID-19. It’s up to players like Jonathan David, Junior Hoilett, Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan, and the ageless Atiba Hutchinson to help put some distance between themselves and fourth-place Panama to consolidate automatic qualification.

Second-place USA will have three cold-weather matches on its itinerary. They entertain El Salvador in Columbus where it may be in the 20s at kickoff on Thursday. Then, they cross to border into Hamilton to face Canada where the temperature could be in the teens (Fahrenheit) on Sunday. And then, they host Honduras at Allianz Field in St. Paul where we will definitely be looking up if it will be the coldest World Cup Qualifier ever! Nine points is possible, but seven would not be a bad return and warm up Sam’s Army.

After a zero-point November (including another “Dos-a-Cero”), Mexico will look to get back on track at “The Office” in Jamaica on Thursday, followed by a pair of home tilts against Costa Rica and Panama. El Tri has been near-unbeatable at Azteca, but Canada found a way to get a point there. Any dropped points here–especially to Panama–could mean that Mexico could be facing opposition from Oceania to get in this year barring a comeback from anyone in the bottom four of “The Ocho”.

Panama opens at Costa Rica in hopes to put some distance between themselves and the Ticos at least and at the same time keep in contention for automatic places. They will then host Jamaica on Sunday before heading to the Azteca. Los Cañaleros are very much in the fight for an automatic spot after a six-point November themselves.

CONMEBOL:

Brazil and Argentina are already in, and Ecuador will join them with two wins this week (home to Brazil and away to Peru). It’s a five-horse race for the fourth and final automatic place as well as fifth-place and the Intercontinental playoff berth against the fifth-place team from Asia.

Currently in fourth is Colombia and they host Peru on Friday in a critical match and then travel to Argentina on Tuesday. Peru, as mentioned, also host Ecuador on Tuesday. They currently sit fifth and got to Russia via the playoff, in 2018. They are hoping for an automatic place this time around.

Chile is in sixth, a point behind Peru and Colombia, and goal difference ahead of Uruguay in seventh. Chile hosts Argentina on Thursday before traveling to the altitude of La Paz and Bolivia on Tuesday.

Uruguay, losers of four on the bounce, have sacked Oscar Tabarez and are looking to get back into the top four and have a good chance to do so against second-bottom Paraguay in Asuncion and then hosting bottom-side Venezuela who are virtually eliminated.

Bolivia are a point behind Chile and Uruguay and two behind Colombia and Peru. They travel to Venezuela before entertaining Chile in a six-pointer to move up towards qualification (or the playoff).

It’s very much all to play for in South America for one remaining automatic place (assuming Ecuador can close the deal) and the playoff spot.

ASIA:

Group A has been the Iran and South Korea show as they have left the rest of the group far behind and both can qualify this week. Iran is in with victory over Iraq on Thursday or if United Arab Emirates (UAE) lose to Syria. South Korea qualify on two wins–away to Lebanon and to Syria (in Dubai). However, one win will be enough if UAE fails to defeat Syria.

Lebanon and Iraq can still give UAE a run for third place and a playoff path to Qatar. They will face each other on Tuesday while UAE travel to Iran.

In Group B, Saudi Arabia have opened up a four-point lead on Japan in second. Australia is in third after a three-match winless streak and will need points at home against Vietnam (currently on zero points) and away to Oman on Tuesday to keep pace. Saudi Arabia can qualify with two wins–home to Oman and away to Japan on Tuesday in the match of the week in Asia. But first, Japan needs to take care of things against China on Thursday.

Oman and China have outside shots at third place, but need to make things happen and have things happen in their favor when it comes to the top three.

A lot to play for still in these three regions when it comes to qualifying and it’s the appetizer to what will be March Madness in a couple matches when Africa, UEFA, and OFC join the mix as these regions will then finish up. Check local listings and streaming services for these matches. Both Concacaf and Asian matches (apart from USA and Mexico home matches) are streamed on Paramount+ in the US and Conmebol matches are streams on Fubo TV.